Patents by Inventor John Saunders Stevenson
John Saunders Stevenson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10131857Abstract: A system includes a quench system that may cool a syngas generated in a gasification chamber. The quench system includes a quench chamber, a dip tube that may direct the syngas from the gasification chamber into a quench liquid to cool the syngas to generate a cooled syngas, a draft tube disposed circumferentially about the dip tube and that may receive the cooled syngas in a first direction. A first passage is disposed between a first wall of the dip tube and a second wall of the draft tube. The system also includes a first baffle that may receive the cooled syngas from the first passage. The first baffle may split a flow of the cooled syngas into a first syngas flow and a second syngas flow, and the first baffle may redirect the first syngas flow in a second direction different from the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Pravin Sadashiv Naphade
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Publication number: 20180223201Abstract: A system includes a quench system that may cool a syngas generated in a gasification chamber. The quench system includes a quench chamber, a dip tube that may direct the syngas from the gasification chamber into a quench liquid to cool the syngas to generate a cooled syngas, a draft tube disposed circumferentially about the dip tube and that may receive the cooled syngas in a first direction. A first passage is disposed between a first wall of the dip tube and a second wall of the draft tube. The system also includes a first baffle that may receive the cooled syngas from the first passage. The first baffle may split a flow of the cooled syngas into a first syngas flow and a second syngas flow, and the first baffle may redirect the first syngas flow in a second direction different from the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2017Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Pravin Sadashiv Naphade
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Patent number: 10018416Abstract: A system includes a multi-feeder assembly. The multi-feeder assembly includes a first solids feeder, a liquid removal section, and a second solids feeder. The first solids feeder is configured to receive a solids flow from an upstream system. The liquid removal section is configured to reduce an amount of liquid in the solids flow. The second solids feeder is configured to receive the solids flow in series with the first solids feeder and output the solids flow to a downstream system.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, John Saunders Stevenson
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Patent number: 9879191Abstract: A method of start-up for a gasification system includes establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier. The method also includes establishing a start-up liquid feed external to the gasifier during gasifier start-up. The method further includes channeling the start-up liquid feed and the start-up fuel to the gasifier during gasifier start-up.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
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Patent number: 9637696Abstract: A pressure control system is provided. The pressure control system includes a first pressure sensing device configured to obtain a first pressure measurement including at least one of a first differential pressure and a first pressure, the first pressure measurement obtained from at least one of within and downstream from a solids supply system, a second pressure sensing device configured to obtain a second pressure measurement including at least one of a second differential pressure and a second pressure within the solids supply system, and a pressure controller configured to use the first pressure measurement and the second pressure measurement to control a pressure within the solids supply system.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Judith Pauline Oppenheim, Anthony Holmes Furman, Thomas Frederick Leininger, Steven Craig Russell, Michael Kent Cueman
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Patent number: 9381446Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to systems for deaerating a stream of slag sump water produced by a gasifier. For example, in one embodiment, a system includes a flash vessel having a first inlet configured to introduce a first fluid into the flash vessel, wherein the flash vessel is configured to flash the first fluid to produce a first flash gas, a second inlet configured to introduce a stream from slag sump into the flash vessel, wherein the stream from slag sump comprises a mixture of a gasification fine slag, dissolved oxygen (O2), and water. A gas-liquid contactor in the flash vessel is configured to contact the stream from slag sump with the first flash gas to enable the first flash gas to deaerate the stream from slag sump. A first outlet of the vessel is configured to output an overhead discharge comprising the first flash gas and oxygen from the stream from slag sump.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rupinder Singh Benipal, George Morris Gulko, John Saunders Stevenson, Srikanth Konda, Vishal Rugnathbhai Brahmbhatt
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Publication number: 20160168493Abstract: A system includes a gasifier configured to gasify a feed to generate syngas. The gasifier comprises a first axis. The system also includes a first gasification reaction zone disposed in the gasifier. The first gasification reaction zone is defined at least partially by a first wall substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The system also includes a first feed injector coupled to the gasifier. The first feed injector is configured to inject the feed into the first gasification reaction zone beneath the first wall in a first direction relative to the first axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventor: John Saunders Stevenson
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Publication number: 20160122669Abstract: A system includes an integrated reactor-syngas cooler that may gasify a feedstock. The integrated reactor-syngas cooler includes a reaction zone that may receive a first syngas and the feedstock, and that may gasify the feedstock to generate a second syngas. The second syngas has a composition different from the first syngas. The system also includes one or more feed injectors disposed in the integrated reactor-syngas cooler and that may supply the feedstock to the reaction zone and a cooling zone disposed downstream of the reaction zone and including one or more cooling tubes. The cooling zone may receive and cool the second syngas.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Hidayathullah Shaik Mohammad, Sethuraman Balasubramaniyan, John Saunders Stevenson, Thomas Frederick Leininger
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Patent number: 9321975Abstract: A vessel for use in a gasification system is provided. The vessel includes a shell and a heat exchange structure positioned within the shell. The heat exchange structure defines a central cavity configured to receive and to direct a syngas to a quenching portion positioned downstream of the central cavity along a syngas path. A passageway is disposed between the shell and the heat exchange structure. A liquid seal is positioned upstream of the quenching portion, and the liquid seal is configured to block transport of at least one of the syngas between from the quenching portion into the passageway and inert gas from the passageway into the quenching portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Lien-Yan Chen, John Saunders Stevenson, Jay Christopher Schleicher
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Patent number: 9290708Abstract: A system includes a gasification feed injector. The gasification feed injector includes a first injector portion configured to inject a first fuel at a first flow rate and a second injector portion configured to inject a second fuel at a second flow rate. The system also includes a fuel circulation system configured to circulate at least one fuel and supply the at least one fuel to the gasification feed injector and a controller configured to transition the gasification feed injector from injecting the first fuel to injecting the second fuel based at least on a pressure downstream of the gasification feed injector.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, John Saunders Stevenson
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Patent number: 9228740Abstract: An annular injector is described. The injector includes a first bayonet assembly and a second bayonet assembly each including a terminal end and a tip end. The second bayonet assembly is configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the first bayonet assembly. An outer diameter of the first bayonet assembly and an inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly vary at the tip end to define a first substantially annular nozzle. The first bayonet assembly includes a maximum outer diameter that is greater than a minimum inner diameter of the second bayonet assembly and at least a portion of at least one of the first bayonet assembly and the second bayonet assembly extends from the tip end to the terminal end. The injector includes a third bayonet assembly configured to be concentrically coupled at least partially about the second bayonet assembly to define a second substantially annular nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Robert Michael Zirin, Raymond Douglas Steele, Constantin Bugescu, Roger Ma, David R. Matthews, Kenneth M. Sprouse
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Patent number: 9181046Abstract: In a first embodiment, a system includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and an adjustable volume coupled to the first outlet and the second inlet. The first solids feeder is configured to supply a feedstock at a first feed rate and the second solids feeder is configured to supply the feedstock at a second feed rate. The adjustable volume is configured to adjust based at least in part on first feed rate and the second feed rate.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Anthony Holmes Furman, Steven Craig Russell
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Patent number: 9170174Abstract: A method for monitoring functionality of a seal assembly within an injector feed assembly is described. The method includes providing a buffer fluid to the seal assembly, measuring at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid, and determining a functionality of the seal assembly based at least partially on the at least one of a pressure and a flow rate of the buffer fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Anthony Holmes Furman, John Saunders Stevenson, Raymond Douglas Steele, Beth Etta McCracken
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Patent number: 9156631Abstract: A system includes a multi-stage solids feeder. The multi-stage solids feeder includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and a conduit disposed between the first outlet and the second inlet. The second solids feeder is disposed adjacent to the first solids feeder, and the conduit routes a solids flow from the first solids feeder to the second solids feeder.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Anthony Holmes Furman, Derek Leslie Aldred
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Patent number: 9150801Abstract: A system includes a gasifier configured to gasify a gasification fuel during a gasification mode. The system also includes a first injector configured to inject a heat control fuel and an oxygen enriched air into the gasifier for combustion during a heat control mode. The heat control fuel is the same or different from the gasification fuel, and the oxygen enriched air includes air enriched with additional oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya
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Patent number: 9145524Abstract: A system includes a gasifier injector configured to inject a heat control fuel and a mixed air into a gasifier for combustion during a heat control mode. The heat control fuel is the same or different from the gasification fuel, and the system is configured to create the mixed air from independent supplies of oxygen and nitrogen.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Saunders Stevenson, Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya
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Publication number: 20150175913Abstract: A method of start-up for a gasification system includes establishing a flow of a start-up fuel external to the gasifier prior to ignition of the gasifier. The method also includes establishing a start-up liquid feed external to the gasifier during gasifier start-up. The method further includes channeling the start-up liquid feed and the start-up fuel to the gasifier during gasifier start-up.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter
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Publication number: 20150159098Abstract: A vessel for use in a gasification system is provided. The vessel includes a shell and a heat exchange structure positioned within the shell. The heat exchange structure defines a central cavity configured to receive and to direct a syngas to a quenching portion positioned downstream of the central cavity along a syngas path. A passageway is disposed between the shell and the heat exchange structure. A liquid seal is positioned upstream of the quenching portion, and the liquid seal is configured to block transport of at least one of the syngas between from the quenching portion into the passageway and inert gas from the passageway into the quenching portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Lien-Yan Chen, John Saunders Stevenson, Jay Christopher Schleicher
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Patent number: 8992641Abstract: A method of startup for a gasification system includes assembling a fuel mixture for use by a gasifier at a fuel mixture assembly point, wherein the fuel mixture includes a quantity of particulate solid fuel and a quantity of non-ventable carrier gas. The method includes channeling the fuel mixture through a first conduit to a fuel mixture disassembly system including a non-ventable carrier gas removal apparatus, establishing a substantially steady flow of the fuel mixture within the first conduit, and redirecting the fuel mixture through a second conduit to the gasifier to facilitate gasifier startup.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2008Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, John Saunders Stevenson
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Patent number: 8951314Abstract: A fuel feed system for use in a gasification system includes a feed preparation section, a pressurization and conveyance section, and a slag additive section. The feed preparation section is configured to grind the fuel to a predetermined size and to adjust the moisture content within the particulate fuel. The pressurization and conveyance section is coupled in flow communication with the feed preparation section, and includes at least one solids pump configured to receive a flow of the particulate fuel at a first pressure and discharge the particulate fuel at a second pressure. The slag additive section is configured to feed a slag additive mixture into the gasifier and to substantially control the total water content within the gasification system.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Frederick Leininger, Aaron John Avagliano, John Saunders Stevenson, John Duckett Winter